Folder for sewing-machines.



A. H STIEG.

FOLDER FOR SEWING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 12. 19 .4

1 2 335 Patented Dec. 24, 1918.

3 SHFETIS-SHEET 1.

32,13 WM /Qga QUJMWS A. H. STIEGZ.

FOLDER FOR SEWING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED 0C1. 2. 1914.

1,55%,235 Patented Dec. 24,1918.

3 SHEETSr-SHEET Z.

' gavxmiy wm A. H S'HEG.

FOLDER FOR SEWING MACHINES,

APPLICATION ,FILED 00?. i2. 19m

3SHEETS-SHEET 3.

flzzi g izq 1 AUGUST H. S'IIEG, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO UNION SPECIAL MACHINE COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

FOLDER FOR SEEING-MACHINES.

Application filed October 12, 1914.

Illinois, have invented certain new and us.

ful Improvements in Folders for Sewing- Machmes. of which the followlng 1s a description, reference bemg had to the accompanying drawing and to the figures of refurence marked thereon.

The invention relates to new and useful improvements in folders for sewing machines and more particularly to a folder having a central member with means for folding the fabric on to each side of the central member and directing the same between oppositely disposed feeding members, one of which is movable relative to the other for accommodating varying thicknesses of material.

An object of the invention is to provide 'a folder of the above character with means tive view showing a sewing machine of the cup feed type having a folder applied there .to embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of' thefolder detached from the machine,-also showing portions of the feed wheels.

Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the folder showing the parts separated to more clearly illustrate the structure thereof.

Fig; 4 is a sectional view on the line 4l of Fig. 2 with the outer members of the folder raised for the insertion of the material.

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of the folder, with the parts shifted to extreme position.

Fig. 6 is a sectional vie t3: ling 6 of Fig. 5. h

Fig. 7 is a sectional view on the line 7( of Fig. i with the outer members of the folder lowered 'into cooperative relation with' the central folding member.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view through the feed cups with the "central folding member 1n Specification 0*. Letters Patent.

' Patented Dec. 24, 1918.

Serial No. 866,332.

position for joining the edges to the central portion of the strip which is folded.

Fig. 9 1s a view similar to Fig. 8; showing the central folding member lowered so that the edges only are joined.

A cup feed sewing machine, that is a sewing machme having anlnner and an outer feed wheel between which the mate rial is supported and a needle passing through the material over the edges of the feed wheels is especially adapted for join-- ing the edges of strips to form straps, or the like. Thestrip is supported by a central folding member on each side of which said strip has been previously folded before entering between the feed wheels. This central folding member extends between the feed wheels and the material is clamped against the folding member by the feed wheels.

The present invention is directed to means for supporting this central folding member so that the same may move laterally or float between the feed wheels and thus permit the fabric or material being stitched to vary in thickness without binding or retarding the free feed of the strip on each side of the central supporting member.

In machines of this type, the inner feed wheel is mounted to rotate about a fixed axis, while the outer feed wheel is mounted to rotate about an axis which is movable toward and from the axis of the inner feed wheel.

This accommodates varying thicknesses of material. If the central folding member which extends betweenthese feed wheels is rigid and fixedly supported, it will be held the distance between this central folding member and the inner feed wheel will be a in fixed relation to the inner'feed wheel and tween the feed wheels, the pressure on the regardless of the thickness of the material.

member.

Vhile the invention is particularly adapted for a machine of the above type, it will be apparent that the floating folder may be used in connection with other types of machines having opposed feeding members, one only of which is movable toward and from the other for accommodating different thicknesses of material and wherein the folder is provided with a central folding member which extends between these feeding members.

In the drawings. I have shown one embodiment of the invention as applied to a cup feed type of machine. Said machine consists of a main casing 1 'which supports an inner feed wheel 2 mounted to rotate about a fixed axis. An outer feed wheel 3 is *arried by a bracket 1 which is so mounted that the axis of the feed wheel 3 may be moved toward and from the axis of the feed wheel '2. These feed wheels are of the usual construction in this type of machine. A needle 5 reciprocating back and forth in a substantially horizontal line above the feed wheels enters the material. while a looper 6 cooperating with the needle preferably forms overseaming stitches.

Mounted on the casing is a bracket 7 to which is fixed an L-shaped arm 8. Mounted on the arm 8 is the base plate 9' of my folder. The base plate 9 is provided with a longitudinal slot 10 which is located in a vertical plane containing the point of contact of the feed wheels 2 and 3. Located in this longitudinal slot is the central folding member 11 of my folder. This central folding member is in the form of a blade and extends beyond the folder to a point between the wheels 2 and 3. as indicated in Fig. '2 of the drawings. This central folding blade is held in the groove by a pivot pin 12 and a clamping screw 1?). By loosening the clamping screw. the forward end of the central folding member may be raised or low cred and then clamped in the adjusted position by this screw 13. provided with raised side wings 1-1 and 15 which extend along the base of the folder at the sides of the central folding member and are spaced therefrom. These wings. with the central folding member. form channels at each side of said central folding Each of these wings is provided with a recess 1t into which is set a fixed trimmer blade 17 which is clamped therein by a clamping plate 19. Cooperating with these fixed trimmer blades is a movable trimmer blade 20. This movable trimmer blade has a V-shaped projection 21 with cutting The folder is also edges 22 and 23 which cooperate respectively .with the stationary trimmer blades above referred to. This movable trimmer blade is carried by a reciprocating support 24.

Cooperating with the central folding member are two spaced complemental folding fingers 25 and 26 which extend on each side of the central folding member and c0- operate with said folding member to bend or fold the strip S into a W-shaped strip, see Fig. 7. These folding fingers are carried by a sleeve 27 which is mounted on an arm 28 pivoted to the base of the folder so that the same may be swung to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 1 to facilitate the insertion of the material. The strip to be folded is laid over the wings 1-1 and 15 and the central folding member and then the folding fingers are brought down onto the strip which folds the same into the shape shown in Fig. 7. The sleeve 27 may be moved forward on the arm 28 for the purpose of starting the folded strip between the feed wheels. The forward ends of these folding fingers are formed with forwardly projecting teeth to aid in carrying the strip forward. The edges of the strip extending above the wings will be led to the trimmerand the edges trimmed and the trimmed otl" edges deflected away from the folder by the deflector Spring arms 30 attached to the side wings 11 and 15 respectively. pros ject forwardly and bearagainst the folded strip after it has been trimmed and after it leaves the guiding channels so as to hold the strip properly folded against the sides of the central folding member. The deflector 29 is mounted on an angle plate 31 which is clamped to the under side of the base of the folder by a screw The base plate 9 of the folder is secured to the arm 8 by a pivot bolt This pivot bolt is located at the receiving end of the folder and all the parts of the folder are carried by this base plate. Also mounted on the base plate isa bolt 31wvhich is threaded into the base plate and projects downwardly through a slot 3% in the arm 8. A spring washer is located between the head of the bolt 34. and the arm 8 for tcnsioning the swinging or floating movements of the folder. This spring washer is elongated and bears against the arnrat its outer ehds. ,In order to prevent the spring washer from rotating about the bolt 31. I have provided the same with a slot 36 wvhich engages a pin 37 on the arm 8. This mounting of the folder on the arm 8 permits the folder to swing about its pivotal axis and the extreme supporting end of the central folding member or tin will shift as the thickness in the fabric folded over the same varies. The

shifting of the folder is brought about by 1 is a screw 38 on .which the forward end of the central folding member or fin rests, and by adjusting this screw the height of the forward portion of the central folding member may be varied. In Fig. 8 of the drawings, I have shown this central folding member raised so that the needle will pass throughthe central portion of the body of the strip, thus securing the edges to the body of the strip. In Fig. 9 of the drawings, I

have shown this central folding member lowered so that the edges only of the strip are joined. In each instance, however, the central folding member or fin 11 extends be- -tween the feed wheels and the material is clamped against the side faces of this cen' tral folding and supporting-member by the pressure of the outer feed wheel toward the inner feed wheel. fabric increases, the outer feed .wheel will take a new position to accommodate the increased thickness in the material and likewise the central folding member will take a new position so that the fabric is clamped against each face thereof with a uniform pressure and both edges of the folded strip will, therefore, be fed uniformly to the stitching mechanism. This is accomplished solely by the mounting of the folder so that it floats,'and theposition of the folder is controlled by the thickness of the material itself and the pressure of the outer feed cup or wheel against the material.

The means for initially foldingand starting the folded stripbetween the feed wheels 1 and the trimming mechanism, per 86, form no part of the present invention except as they are used in combination with the ad justable central folding member or fin, and

- in connectiouwiththe pivotally supported base on which the various parts of the folder are mounted;

It is obvious that minor changes in .the details of construction and the arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The combinatlon .with feeding members, one of which is movable toward and from the other, of a folder including a centralmember extending between the feeding members, means for foldlngthe material on to each side of said central member, and means for supporting said member whereby the same may move laterally or float between said feeding members 'and be held'from end- If the thickness in thefeed wheels and beheld from endwise movement between said members.

3. The combination .with feed wheels, each of which is mounted to rotate about a vertical axis and one of which is movabletoward and from the other, of a folder including a central member extending'between the feed wheels for supporting the strip which is to.

be stitched, means for folding the strip on to each face of said central supporting member,

and means for supporting said folder .whereby said central supportingt member may be moved laterally or fioat between the feed wheels and be held from endwise movement between said. members. 4

.4. The combination with feed wheels each of which is mounted torotate about a vertical axis, and one of which is movable toward and from the other, of a folder including a central member extendingbetween the feed wheels for supporting the strip which is to be stitched, a base plate on which said central supporting member is mounted, devices carried by said base plate for folding a strip on to each face of said central supporting member with the edges of said strip projecting above said central supporting member, and means for pivotally supporting said base plate whereby the central supporting member may be moved laterally or float between said feed Wheels.

5. The combination with feed wheels, each of which is mounted to rotate about a vertical axis, and one of which is movable toward and from the other, of a folder including a central member extending between the feed wheels for'supporting the strip which is to be stitched, a base plate on which said central supporting member is mounted, devices carried by said .base plate for folding strip on to each face of said central supporting member with the edges of saidstrip projecting above said central supporting member, means for pivotally supporting said base plate whereby the central supporting member may'be moved laterally or float between said feed wheels, and means for yieldingly' opposing lateral movement of the base plate.

6. The combination with feed wheels, each of which is mounted to rotate about a vertical axis, and one of which is movable toward and from the other, of a folder including a central member extending between the feed wheels for supporting the strip which is to be stitched, a base plate on whichsaidv central supporting member is mounted, devices carried by said base plate for folding a stri on to each face of said central support-ingmember with the edges of said strip projecting above said central supporting member, a supporting arm, a pivot bolt carried by said base plate at the rear end thereof for pivotally connecting the same to said arm, a second bolt carried by said base plate and extending through a slot in the arm, and a spring washer engaging the head of said second bolt and bearing against said arm for yieldingly holding the base plate from movement about its pivotal support.

7. The combination with feed wheels, each of which is mounted to rotate about a vertical axis, and one of which is movable toward and from the other. of a folder including a central member extending between the feed wheels for supporting the strip which is to be stitched, a base plate on which said ceir tral supporting member is mounted, devices carried by said base plate for folding a strip on to each face of said central supporting member with the edges of said strip projecting above said central supporting member. a supporting arm, a pivot bolt carried by said base plate at the rear end thereof for pivotally connecting the same to said arm, a second bolt carried by said base plate and extending through a slot in the arm,

a spring washer engaging the head of said second bolt and bearing against said arm for yieldingly holding the base plate from movement about its pivotal support, and means for preventing said washer from rotating on its supporting bolt.

8. The combination with feed wheels, each of which is mounted to rotate about a vertical axis. a needle recipro 'ating back and forth above said feed wheels, a supporting fin extending between the feed wheels for supporting and presenting a strip to be stitched to said needle. a supporting plate for said tin, means for pivota'lly connecting said fin to said supporting plate. and means for adjusting said fin about its pivot forgaising and lowering the tin relative to the needle and for holding the same in adjusted positions.

9. The combination of feed wheels, each of which is mountedto rotate about a verti cal axis. and one of which is movable toward and from the other. a folder for folding the strip which is to be stitched. a base plate upon which said folder is mounted,

' and means for pivotally supporting said plate. whereby the folder may be moved laterally or float between said feed wheels and be held from endwise movement between said feed wheels.

fee-ding members varies and be held fro'n'r endwise movement between said feeding members.

11. The eon'ibination with opposed feeding members. one of which is movable toward and from the other, of a device acting on the fabric fed to the feeding members, means for supporting said device, whereby the same will automatically position itself centrally between said feeding members when the thickness of the fabric fed to the feeding members varies, said means for supporting said device including a pivot located in a plane containing the meeting surfacesof said feeding members.

1:2. The combination with opposed feeding members. one of which is movable toward and from the other, of a device extending between the feeding members acting on the fabric fed to the feeding members. means forsupporting said device, whereby the same will automatically position itself centrally between said feeding members when the thickness of the fabric fed to the feeding members varies, said device including a central sup )0rting member, and devicesfor folding the fabric on the opposite sides of said supporting member.

13. The combination with opposed feeding members. one of which is movable toward and from the other, of a device acting on the fabric fed to the feeding members, and means for supportn'ig said device, whereby the same will automatically positlon itself centrally between said feeding members when the thickness of the fabric fed to the feeding members varies. said device including a guide for the fabric being fed, which guide extends rearwardly to a point between said feeding members.

14. The combination with a fabric supporting guide over which the fabric is bent 'and presented to the stitching mechanism,

of stitching mechanism including a needle adapted to enter and emerge on the same face of the fabric, feeding devices for clamping the fabric against said fabric supporting guide and for feeding the same along said guide and means for mounting, said supporting guide. whereby the same adjusts itself for varying thicknesses of fabric.

15. The coml'iination with stitching mechanism. feeding members, a fabric supporting guide for directing the fabric to said feeding members and stitching mechanism, a trimming mechanism including a movable trimming blade and a relatively stationary trimming blade, means for mounting said stationary trimming blade and said fabric supporting guide. whereby the same may be shifted to accon'm'iodate different thicknesses of the fabricbeing stitched.

16. The combination with opposed feeding members, a fabric guide extending between said feeding members over which the fabric .is hent,'mea ns for folding the fabric same will adjust itself to accommodate vary- 10 over said fabric 'guide,i-vhereby an edge of ing thicknesses in the fabric being stitched.

the fabric extends above the guide, trim- 'In testimony whereof I affix my signature Ining mechanism in advance of the stitching in the presence of two Witnesses.

meehanisnyan'd including a movable trim 5 AUGUS-T'H. STIEG." ming blade and a stationar trimmingblade, Witnesses: means for mounting the fa ric guide and the JAMES B. MOFFATT,

stationaryv trimming blade, whereby the GEORGE TATE. 

